Romualdez: House bent on protecting PH rights in WPS
THE House of Representatives is committed to protecting the territorial integrity of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), especially from the illegal activities and incursions of China against Filipino fishermen and security forces patrolling our exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
This was the assertion made by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, as he lauded the adoption of House Resolution (HR) No. 1494 condemning China’s “illegal actions” in the WPS and urging the government to uphold and defend sovereign rights over the nation’s EEZ.
“The House is committed to do everything in its power to protect our rights in the WPS. We fully support our troops and our coast guard patrolling our exclusive economic zone against China’s vessels that turn away our fishermen with a legal right to fish in the WPS,” Romualdez said.
“We also commit to enhancing our defense posture in the WPS through legislation and by exercising Congress’s power of the purse. He added that they will have whatever support our Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy needs,” he added.
HR 1494 – adopted by the bigger chamber last Wednesday – consolidates six resolutions with the same topic: HRs 781, 823, 1169, 1201, 1204, and 1293.
It was introduced by Reps. Neptali M. Gonzales II, Rufus B. Rodriguez, Arlene D. Brosas, France L. Castro, Raoul Danniel A. Manuel, Jefferson F. Khonghun, Eduardo Roa Rama, Jr., Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” C. Villanueva, Erwin T. Tulfo, Mohamad Khalid Q. Dimaporo, Wowo Fortes, Ray T. Reyes, Roman T. Romulo, Loreto B. Acharon, Emigdio P. Tanjuatco III, Brian Raymund S. Yamsuan, Ramon Rodrigo L. Gutierrez, and the late Edward S. Hagedorn.
It referred to the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruling upholding our right over the WPS under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Unfortunately, China continues its illegal activities in the area even if the PCA already ruled that there is “no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the nine-dash line.
“In clear violation of the Arbitral Award, China has built artificial islands in various parts of the West Philippine Sea fortified with airstrips, military installations, hardware, and equipment and has militarized at least three of those artificial islands, arming them with anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile systems, laser and jamming equipment and fighter jets,” the resolution read.
